Castle Hill (Ipswich, Massachusetts) facts for kids
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Castle Hill
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Ipswich, Massachusetts |
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| Area | Home 56,881 square feet (5,284.4 m2) Estate 165 acres (67 ha) |
| Built | 1926–1928 |
| Architect | House: David Adler Gardens: Olmsted Brothers |
| Architectural style | Stuart |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000183 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 2, 1977 |
| Designated NHL | August 6, 1998 |
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Castle Hill is a huge mansion in Ipswich, Massachusetts. It was finished in 1928 as a summer home for Mr. and Mrs. Richard Teller Crane, Jr. The name "Castle Hill" also refers to the 165-acre hill, called a drumlin, that the house sits on. This hill is surrounded by the sea and salt marsh.
Both the mansion and the hill are part of the 2,100-acre Crane Estate. This large estate includes the historic mansion, 21 other buildings, and beautiful landscapes. It overlooks Ipswich Bay, north of Boston. The name "Castle Hill" comes from a place in England where many early settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony came from.
The Crane Estate is a great example of the "Country Place Era" from the early 1900s. During this time, rich families built large country homes. Many famous architects and landscape designers, like the Olmsted Brothers, worked on the estate. Because it has been so well-preserved, Castle Hill was named a National Historic Landmark in 1998. Since 1949, The Trustees of Reservations has owned the property, and it is open for everyone to visit.
Castle Hill's Early Days
The story of Castle Hill goes way back to December 29, 1634. On that day, leaders in Ipswich decided that the land with the "great Hill," known as Castle Hill, would always be for the town's use.
In 1637, John Winthrop, Jr., who founded Ipswich, was given Castle Hill. This was to convince him to stay in town. Over the years, the land was passed down through different families. By 1745, the Brown family owned it.
On January 10, 1910, Richard Teller Crane, Jr. bought the property. His father, Richard T. Crane, was a very rich businessman who started the Crane Co. in Chicago. The Crane Estate was officially named a National Historic Landmark in 1998.
Designing the Estate
Mr. Crane hired the famous Olmsted Brothers to design the gardens and outdoor areas. Their father, Frederick Law Olmsted, designed New York's Central Park. By 1912, they had created beautiful terraced gardens. They also started work on a huge grass pathway called the "Grande Allée." This pathway is 160 feet wide and lined with evergreen trees. It stretches from the top of the hill down to the water, almost half a mile away.
Classical statues stand along the "Grande Allée." In 1913, Arthur Asahel Shurcliff took over the design and finished it by 1915. A fancy "casino" (which means "Little House" in Italian) was built in the middle of the pathway. It had a saltwater swimming pool, changing rooms, and a large indoor ballroom. There were also two main gardens, the "Italian Garden" and the "Rose Garden," with beautiful plants and fountains.
At first, Mr. Crane built an Italian Renaissance-style house on top of Castle Hill. It had stucco walls and a red tiled roof. However, the New England weather was too harsh for the stucco house. It was taken down in 1924 to make way for a stronger home.
Four years later, a new mansion was completed. This fifty-nine-room house was designed by architect David Adler. It looked like a 17th-century English country home. Inside, it had a library with special wood carvings from an English manor. It also featured wooden floors and paneled rooms from an 18th-century London house. Adler's sister, Frances Adler Elkins, helped design the inside. This amazing mansion, finished in 1928, still stands today. Two huge griffin statues guard the entrance to the north terrace, overlooking the sea. These were a gift to Richard Crane from his employees.
Visiting Castle Hill Today
After Richard Crane passed away in 1931, his wife, Florence Higinbotham Crane, inherited the estate. In 1945, the Crane family gave much of their private beach and sand dunes to The Trustees of Reservations. This group works to protect land and historic places in Massachusetts. When Florence Crane died in 1949, most of the property, including the mansion, was given to The Trustees.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Castle Hill was a popular place for outdoor concerts. Famous jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald performed there. It was also used as an art center and music camp. Since 1996, The Trustees have hosted outdoor picnic concerts every summer. These concerts feature many different types of music.
The Trustees offer tours of the Great House and its grounds from April to December. They also host many weddings at the beautiful property each year. Other parts of the estate, like Crane Beach and the Crane Wildlife Refuge, are also open to the public.
See also
